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[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]

Ahead on NEWS 7 at six...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
After losing his right to vote-- a Franklin County man becomes the first in the state to have his privileges restored as a convicted felon.
(------------)
[anchor=Teresa]
Plus-- an 88- year old man is murdered in South Boston.

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Tonight on News 7 Sports, Johnny Benson goes to victory lane for the first time in his career, Michael Vick and the Falcons have won four straight, and
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[VO-NAT]

the Hokies examine the fallout from last night's loss to the Pitt Panthers.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]

A mix of sun and clouds across the region today, temperatures still well below average. Another cool night ahead and maybe even a shower or two. I'll have the complete forecast coming up.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 6:44]
[IN Q=I sometimes wonder]
((AUBREY WINGFIELD: I SOMETIMES WONDER WHY IT WAS SO HARSH FOR A NON-VIOLENT FELONS BUT I GUESS THEY HAVE THEIR REASONS.))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=have their reasons]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A new policy gives a Franklin County man a second chance.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

Good evening, I'm Teresa Hamilton.

[Voting-Rights]

[ANCHOR=Teresa ]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-34 TC-1:28:00]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 6]
If you're a convicted felon, you're barred from voting in Virginia.
But some argue the policy should change.
Before you make up your mind, you should hear the story of one Franklin County man.
Justin McLeod has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Aubrey Wingfield; :11]
[SUPER=@justin1; :55]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Franklin County]
((((NAT SOUND OF PULLING MATERIALS OUT OF ENVELOPE))
In this envelope is years of hard work.
It is work that finally gives Aubrey Wingfield the right to vote.
[SOT 1:40]
[IN Q=It will be a good]
((AUBREY WINGFIELD: IT WILL BE A GOOD FEELING, SOMETHING THAT I'VE MISSED DOING A FEW YEARS.))
[Runs= 07]
[OUT Q=doing a few years]

Years that go back to the 1960's.
Aubrey was caught making his own whiskey.
He paid a fine and has had no problems since.
But because he is a convicted felon, he lost his right to vote for life.
[SOT 6:10]
[IN Q=I can't dispute that]
((AUBREY WINGFIELD: I CAN'T DISPUTE THAT. THEY HAVE THEY'RE REASONS. IT'S A DETERRENT AND IT SERVES AS A DETERRENT.))
[Runs= 07]
[OUT Q=as a detterent]

The governor however does have the power to restore someone's voting rights.
So about five years ago, Aubrey filled out the 13 page application.
Finally three weeks ago, Governor Warner restored Aubrey's voting privileges.
[SOT 18:51:19]
[IN Q=There are hundreds]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CASES LIKE THIS ONE ALL ACROSS VIRGINIA, CONVICTED FELONS WHO CANNOT VOTE. THAT'S PARTLY WHY GOVERNOR WARNER CHANGED THE POLICY IN SEPTEMBER, MAKING IT EASIER FOR SOMEONE TO GET THEIR VOTING RIGHTS BACK.))
[Runs= 13]
[OUT Q=voting rights back]
((QUICK NAT SOUND OF AUBREY TALKING))
Aubrey is so far the first and only person in the state to regain his rights under the new rules.
[GRAPHIC]
The new procedures make it easier to have your civil rights restored if your felony was non-violent, was not related to distribution of drugs, or if it wasn't pertaining to election laws.
The rules are designed for people like Aubrey Wingfield.
[SOT 3:24]
[IN Q=I like to have the right]
((AUBREY WINGFIELD: I LIKE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A SAY IN WHAT GOES ON IN MY COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO VOTE.))
[Runs= 07]
[OUT Q=be able to vote]

He says he will do just that at the polls on Tuesday.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Franklin County.))

[24th-District]

As election day draws near, the candidates are putting out all the stops to get their message out in the final hours.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.]

In the 24th district, Republican Ben Cline is hoping to become the state Delegate to fill Vance Wilkins seat for the next year.
He favors keeping taxes low, promoting job growth, and opposes abortion.
He spent part of the day campaigning in Amherst County.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:17]
[IN Q=The race is winding]
((BEN CLINE/(R) CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES: THE RACE IS WINDING UP TO A CLIMAX AND I'M JUST EXCITING ABOUT THE RECEPTION WE'RE GETTING FROM OUR POSITIVE CAMPAIGN BASED ON THE ISSUES AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP EMPHASIZING THOSE ISSUES.))
[SUPER=01-Ben Cline/(R) Candidate for House of Delegates; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=those issues]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]

Cline's opponent is Democrat Mimi Elrod.
She supports education, economic development, and abortion rights.
She spent part of her day working the phones at her campaign headquarters in Lexington.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:46]
[IN Q=I'm very hopeful]
((MIMI ELROD: I'M VERY HOPEFUL. I AM A DEMOCRAT, THIS IS A REPUBLICAN AREA SO WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE BUT I'VE HAD A LOT OF WONDERFUL HELP.))
[SUPER=01-Mimi Elrod/(D) Candidate for House of Delegates; ]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=wonderful help]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2002]

Governor Warner will lend his help tomorrow at a campaign stop in Lexington.

[Rockbridge-Court]

Voters in part of that district will also decide the future of the Rockbridge County Courthouse.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]

The current building in downtown Lexington is more than a hundred years old.
A referendum on Tuesday's ballot would allow Rockbridge County and the City of Lexington to spend up to 13-million in bonds to build a new courthouse and parking deck.
Supporters say the current facility is cramped and inadequate, and does not provide enough security for visitors and court personnel.
Opponent say the project costs too much and would destroy a part of history.
Even if the referendum doesn't pass, the circuit court judge could condemn the building, and force the localities to construct a new courthouse.
(------------)

[Patrick-School]

Residents in Patrick County will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide the future of their schools.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Stuart/February]

The school board wants to build a middle school, arguing the current elementary schools are overcrowded.
The project would cost nearly 14-million dollars.
But some residents are opposed to any tax increase to pay for the school.
They also fear kids would have to travel long distances to get to the middle school.
If passed, the facility would most likely open by the 2004 school year.
(------------)

[Budget-Cops]

Law Enforcement has dodged the bullet but it's future still remains unclear.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/October 15th]

Two weeks ago, Governor Warner announced he's slashing 858-million dollars out of state government.
The Virginia State Police and sheriff's department escaped the cuts this round.
But at least one area sheriff fears cuts will come eventually and wonders what effect that will have on fighting crime.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 39:26]
[IN Q=It's going to be disastrous]
((FRANK CASSELL/HENRY CO. SHERIFF: IT'S GOING TO BE DISASTROUS TO US BECAUSE THE COUNTY CAN'T PICK IT UP. THEY'RE MORE BROKE THAN THE STATE.))
[SUPER=01-Frank Cassell/Henry Co. Sheriff; ]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=than the state]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./April]

In Henry County, any state cuts will most likely mean lay-offs.
Sheriff Cassell says he cannot cut personnel in the jail because of overcrowding so lay-offs will most likely have to come from road deputies.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Still ahead on the newscast, a South Boston man is accused of stealing a car from a murder scene...
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[VO-NAT]
and things are moving at the Roanoke Civic Center, but the action is not on the court. We'll have more on that coming up, but first, let's check in with Brent in the WeatherCenter.
(----------------)

[South-Boston]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A South Boston man has been arrested on charges of stealing a car from a murder scene.
29-year old Dwayne Glass was arrested earlier today - charged with grand larceny.
Police say he stole a Chevy sedan from the scene where 88-year old Joseph Conley was killed early yesterday morning.
Glass has NOT been charged with Conley's murder ... Police say THAT's still under investigation and charges are pending.

[Ferrum]

We should know tomorrow whether Ferrum College plans to move forward with a controversial plan.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin County]

The college has been considering moving the Blue Ridge Institute Farm museum to make way for a grocery store.
Last May, the college's board delayed the vote to allow the new school's president to give her opinion.
Last week, Dr. Jennifer Braaten told News 7 she supports keeping the museum where it is.
The board is meeting this weekend in Charlottesville and is expected to vote on the proposal.
(------------)

[Feedback]

The state bond issue referendums, and a peace mission to Iraq caught the attention of two people who wrote to News-7 this week.
Assignment editor Joe McKean has their comments in this week's Feedback.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Animation Open]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :05]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Week; :57]
[RUNS=1:54]
[OUT Q=Animation Close]
((Supporters of the bond issues Virginians will vote on this Tuesday say the education and parks projects the money will finance are necessary. And they say that current financial conditions make this a good time for the state to take on more debt.
A Troutville viewer (Gerald Tobey) disagrees, saying: "After reading and hearing the reports of the state budget shortfalls, the negative aspects of the reduction in the car tax, the layoffs of employees and the 15% cuts throughout offices in Virginia, how can we approve the borrowing of $900 million for higher education and $119 million for state
park renovations? What does this say to the state employees that no longer have their jobs! What does it say to the taxpayers who now do not receive the services that they have come to expect! The improvements may be needed
at our universities and in our state parks, but what about the fiscal responsibility to our taxpayers?"
Peace activist Nathan Musselman's plans to join a group traveling to Iraq brought a protest from a viewer who attended the news conference announcing the trip last week (Penny LaDeur): "He told the story of the Iraqi people and the devastating effect American sanctions and war had on the people. He said the purpose of his visits to Iraq was to connect with the people and support them. He is actually putting his life on the line going back to Iraq even in the face of possible attack by the US This is an uncommon gesture and yet you made no mention of that fact. Your report made it sound like a nice foreign visit like any other."
We appreciate hearing your views on our news coverage and issues in the news.
Send your letters to PO Box 7, Roanoke, 24022-0007...faxes to 343-7269...and email to news@wdbj7.com.
Joe McKean, News-7.))

[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Still to come, Virginia Tech drops in the polls after last night's loss to Pittsburgh...
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[VO-NAT]
but before that, The Hotel Roanoke has a storied past.. and for one man its been living history...
(----------------)

[Civic-Center]

It's a sign of the times for downtown Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

This week, workers installed a new electronic sign in front of the Roanoke Civic Center.
It will broadcast information on upcoming shows and traffic patterns just like the one on Williamson Road does.
V-Dot was reluctant to sign off on the project because of fears the new sign would distract drivers on 581.
The Civic Center agreed to only change the message every eight seconds.
It should be up and running sometime next week.
(------------)

[VA-Profile]

The Hotel Roanoke has also seen changes over the years.
And a Roanoke native has played a big part in it.
Rachel Cannon brings us his story in this week's Virginia Profile.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Melvin Bryant/Retired Engineer; :23]
[SUPER=@Rachel2; 1:39]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, Roanoke.]
((3:54:12 (Melvin talking)
It's easy to go back in time talking to Melvin Bryant.
Just having celebrated his 91st birthday this week, he has plenty to say about the Star City and the Hotel Roanoke.
The place he worked for almost 40-years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:32:55]
[IN Q=i had]
((MELVIN BRYANT/RETIRED ENGINEER; I HAD THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ENTIRE HOTEL HANDLING CONVENTIONS THAT CAME IN A LOT OF SIDE WORK THAT WENT ON IT WAS GOOD TO BOOK THEM BUT YOU HAD A LOT OF REQUESTS THAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE. ))
[OUT Q=HAVE]
Hotel Roanoke was and still is the place for conventions.
Bryant says in his time they had everything from hospitals officials, to cattle to cars in their ballroom.
As might be expected, there was a crisis every now and then. Bryant recalls only a couple weeks notice to host a huge group of schools.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:39:48]
[IN Q=we]
((WE CHANGED THE SET UP IN THE BALLROOM ABOUT EVERY HOUR YOU KNOW ALL THE SCHOOLS WOULD COME IN TO PERFORM AND EACH HAD A DIFFERENT DESIGN SO BUT WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT AND MAKE THEM HAPPY.))
[OUT Q=HAPPY]
Happiness for Bryant is sifting through his pictures and clippings date back to the 1930s.
He rattles off dates and names - - stories and anecdotes, even though he retired back in 19-76.
And while plenty of famous faces came through these doors, it's the friends he made that make the most lasting impression.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:43:35]
[IN Q=really ]
((REALLY THAT'S THE THING I MISS MORE ABOUT MY HOTEL WORK THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS ALL THE MANY FRIENDS THAT I ME WHILE I WAS THERE.))
[OUT Q=WAS THERE]
Bryant is very proud of the Hotel and his participation in a piece of Roanoke's history.
But these days it's the future of his family that brings him the most joy.
Rachel Cannon, News 7, Roanoke.))

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Coming up, the Hokies try to regroup after their first loss of the season, Nascar has another first time winner, and
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[VO-NAT]

Michael Vick leads the Falcons past the Ravens.

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[S-Falcons]

Entering today's contest with the Ravens, Michael Vick was the only starting quarterback in the league not to have an interception. Vick saw that streak end this afternoon in the Georgia Dome.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA/Ravens vs. Falcons; :00]

Vick and the Falcons were driving late in the first quarter, but the southpaw was picked off by Bernardo Harris as he tried to go over the middle.
Vick got some help from the defense when the Ravens Jeff Blake lost the handle on the pigskin and former Virginia standout, Patrick Kerney scooped it up and ran it in for the touchdown. Atlanta led it 17 to 10 at halftime.
Vick then turned in the play of the day. Eluding the rush with the spin o rama. He fired a dart off his
[SUPER=30-Baltimore/17/Atlanta/20/;]
back foot to Brian Finneran at the one. That led to a T-J Duckett touchdown run and the Falcons beat the Ravens 20 to 17, although it wasn't pretty.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Michael Vick/136 Yards Passing vs. Ravens; :04]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=they played great."]
(----------------)

[S-Bills]

In Buffalo, Drew Bledsoe faced his former team for the first time since being traded by the Patriots following the Super Bowl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Orchard Park, NY/Patriots vs. Bills; :00]

Bledsoe was sacked four times by the Pats this afternoon, and was intercepted once. Although he did throw for 300 yards, his former backup, Tom Brady got the better of the matchup. Brady threw for 310 yards and
[SUPER=30-New England/38/Buffalo/7/;]
four TD's, including two to Antowain Smith. New England ripped the Bills by a final of 38 to 7. Elsewhere the Bengals won for the first time. Here's a look at all of today's NFL scores.
(------------)

[S-Hokies]

The Hokies took a tumble in the new Top 25 polls that were released earlier today.
Tech is now 7th in the coaches' poll and 8th in the Associated Press Top 25.
Mike Stevens has more on the Pittsburgh setback from Blacksburg.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=@Mike1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Randall/5 Turnovers in Last Two Games; :29]
[SUPER=01-Vinnie Fuller/Virginia Tech Cornerback; :43]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/7 & 3 Against Pittsburgh; :59]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(--------------)
[TALENT=TRAVIS]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD TECH]
Also, it was announced this afternoon that the Tech-Syracuse game will kickoff at 3:30 this coming Saturday on ESPN. Kevin Jones is listed as doubtful for that contest with a pulled hamstring and will undergo an MRI on Monday.
[GRAPHIC=UVA]

The Virginia Cavaliers will also kickoff at 3:30 on Saturday at Penn State. That contest will be televised regionally by ABC.

[S-Race]

We finish up on the track where Winston Cup points leader Tony Stewart needed to finish 9th or better in the remaining three races to wrap up the championship. Stewart started 24th in today's Pop Secret 400 at Rockingham.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockingham, NC/TNT; :00]